Comments on: Big Mac’s Admission http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/ Perspectives from a Baltimore blogger Sat, 10 Jul 2010 02:05:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Kurt Smith http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-93 Kurt Smith Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:13:12 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-93 By the way Bill, I believe this means we can give full credit for saving baseball after the strike to your brother. ;-) By the way Bill, I believe this means we can give full credit for saving baseball after the strike to your brother. ;-)

]]> By: Kurt Smith http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-92 Kurt Smith Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:11:19 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-92 I can't say there should be asterisks next to the records. That involves actual proof of rule-breaking, which we're never going to sufficiently have and would open a huge can of worms. However, if I'm a sportswriter (which I guess I am in a way although I'm a NASCAR guy), McGwire, Bonds and Sosa--and Clemens for that matter, even though he had a Hall-level career before drugs I believe--never get my Hall vote. Not even the sentimental one that elects guys like Maz. I can’t say there should be asterisks next to the records. That involves actual proof of rule-breaking, which we’re never going to sufficiently have and would open a huge can of worms. However, if I’m a sportswriter (which I guess I am in a way although I’m a NASCAR guy), McGwire, Bonds and Sosa–and Clemens for that matter, even though he had a Hall-level career before drugs I believe–never get my Hall vote. Not even the sentimental one that elects guys like Maz.

]]> By: Lions95 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-86 Lions95 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:43:08 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-86 Forget the when MLB banned or started testing for steroids. Mark McGwire committed A CRIME, but having steroids in his possession. The fact is they are illegal to have. Against the Law. Pretty much taking steroids is like doing cocaine, heroin or marijuana, it is against the law to have and consume. Forget the when MLB banned or started testing for steroids. Mark McGwire committed A CRIME, but having steroids in his possession. The fact is they are illegal to have. Against the Law. Pretty much taking steroids is like doing cocaine, heroin or marijuana, it is against the law to have and consume.

]]> By: Mark http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-84 Mark Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:28:38 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-84 How many drugs in your lifetime have YOU taken w/o team doctor's advice or knowledge. Please Rip, get real, McGwire committed NO CRIME so stop acting or writing like he had. How many drugs in your lifetime have YOU taken w/o team doctor’s advice or knowledge. Please Rip, get real, McGwire committed NO CRIME so stop acting or writing like he had.

]]> By: EJR http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-76 EJR Tue, 19 Jan 2010 00:38:29 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-76 Woodieman - you are incorrect in saying that steroids were not banned during McGwire's era. In 1971, MLB passed a rule saying all illegal drugs (federal and state laws) were AGAINST MLB RULES. STEROIDS BECAME ILLEGAL sometime around 1988. In 1991 and 1997 MLB also sent out memo's reminding the players, owners, and player's union that steroid use was against MLB rules. Yes there was no testing until after McGwire's career - but steroids were still against MLB rules. Just like heroin and pcp are against the rules for people at my work even though we are not tested. This is the 5th article I've read where posters have made this claim about McGwire. It it completely false so please NO MORE "he did it before steroids were against the rules". Woodieman – you are incorrect in saying that steroids were not banned during McGwire’s era. In 1971, MLB passed a rule saying all illegal drugs (federal and state laws) were AGAINST MLB RULES. STEROIDS BECAME ILLEGAL sometime around 1988. In 1991 and 1997 MLB also sent out memo’s reminding the players, owners, and player’s union that steroid use was against MLB rules.

Yes there was no testing until after McGwire’s career – but steroids were still against MLB rules. Just like heroin and pcp are against the rules for people at my work even though we are not tested.

This is the 5th article I’ve read where posters have made this claim about McGwire. It it completely false so please NO MORE “he did it before steroids were against the rules”.

]]> By: Katherine http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-75 Katherine Mon, 18 Jan 2010 12:24:25 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-75 Billy, I happen to agree with everything you wrote. I don't buy McGwire's statements any more than I buy A-Rod's statements. McGwire is almost as bad as Rafael Palmeiro, although Palmeiro committed perjury. McGwire just refused to talk about it. I think that all of McGwire's stats should have a asterisks besides them. He doesn't deserve our sympathy, he doesn't deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and he doesn't deserve to be in baseball anymore. And that is the sad part. I used to love baseball, but the game has become so tarnished that people don't know who to believe. I hope that just because he came clean about his steroid use that now the members of the Hall of Fame don't vote him in. Billy, I happen to agree with everything you wrote. I don’t buy McGwire’s statements any more than I buy A-Rod’s statements. McGwire is almost as bad as Rafael Palmeiro, although Palmeiro committed perjury. McGwire just refused to talk about it.
I think that all of McGwire’s stats should have a asterisks besides them. He doesn’t deserve our sympathy, he doesn’t deserve to be in the Hall of Fame and he doesn’t deserve to be in baseball anymore. And that is the sad part. I used to love baseball, but the game has become so tarnished that people don’t know who to believe.
I hope that just because he came clean about his steroid use that now the members of the Hall of Fame don’t vote him in.

]]> By: woodieman http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-73 woodieman Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:48:10 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-73 Let's not forget that McGuire retired before the things he took were outlawed by baseball. Now just suppose that some other medications that players took before the rules were put forth were suddenly deemed performance boosters rather than supplements or medications. Do these players then also come under scrutiny? I think live and let live , in this case. Baseball and all other sports have had their bad boys and some of them are in the hall of fame. OJ is there and he's a murderer. Ruth and Cobb were surely not poster boys for cleanliness. They are there. It was an era in sports, period and our sports should not be cheapened by always attempting to change the records whenever someone does something that is deemed to be unpopular or suspect. It is what it is. I , for one, will not visit the Cooperstown because Pete Rose is not in there. He did nothing to enhance his body wrongly, hustled all the time, never threw a game or tried any less to go all out , but just because he gambled and maybe, even bet on his team to WIN , not lose, he is shut out, the greatest hustler who ever played the game. Maybe the Hall of Fame should be labeled the Popularity Hall of Fame, not the Performance , because that's what it's become. Leave our history and rules alone. Don't f_ _ k with it! Let’s not forget that McGuire retired before the things he took were outlawed by baseball. Now just suppose that some other medications that players took before the rules were put forth were suddenly deemed performance boosters rather than supplements or medications. Do these players then also come under scrutiny? I think live and let live , in this case. Baseball and all other sports have had their bad boys and some of them are in the hall of fame. OJ is there and he’s a murderer. Ruth and Cobb were surely not poster boys for cleanliness. They are there. It was an era in sports, period and our sports should not be cheapened by always attempting to change the records whenever someone does something that is deemed to be unpopular or suspect. It is what it is.
I , for one, will not visit the Cooperstown because Pete Rose is not in there. He did nothing to enhance his body wrongly, hustled all the time, never threw a game or tried any less to go all out , but just because he gambled and maybe, even bet on his team to WIN , not lose, he is shut out, the greatest hustler who ever played the game.
Maybe the Hall of Fame should be labeled the Popularity Hall of Fame, not the Performance , because that’s what it’s become. Leave our history and rules alone. Don’t f_ _ k with it!

]]> By: Ralph Gevinson http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-72 Ralph Gevinson Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:40:58 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-72 There has to be a standard to measure and compare these ballplayers. How do you measure a player who was clean and played though his injury verus a guy like McGwire? So many clean ballpayers achieved greatness and played through their injury. I am not a Yankee fan, but how can you even compare a guy like McGwire to a ballplayer like Mickey Mantle. There has to be a standard to measure and compare these ballplayers. How do you measure a player who was clean and played though his injury verus a guy like McGwire?
So many clean ballpayers achieved greatness and played through their injury. I am not a Yankee fan, but how can you even compare a guy like McGwire to a ballplayer like Mickey Mantle.

]]> By: Paulie D. http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-69 Paulie D. Sun, 17 Jan 2010 01:18:53 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-69 In 1995 "our buddy" Brady Anderson hit 16 home runs, 1996 50 home runs, and 1997 18 home runs. The guy looked like a body builder. Try and tell me PED's don't impact your home run production. Give me a freaken brake Mark McGwire. In 1995 “our buddy” Brady Anderson hit 16 home runs, 1996 50 home runs, and 1997 18 home runs. The guy looked like a body builder. Try and tell me PED’s don’t impact your home run production. Give me a freaken brake Mark McGwire.

]]> By: Chris http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/2010/01/15/big-macs-admission/#comment-67 Chris Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:24:23 +0000 http://charmcitycurrent.com/ripkenbaseball/?p=101#comment-67 Agree on all points. But let's not forget Tony LaRussa's role in all this. He was -- and remains -- one of McGwire's greatest apologists and enablers. Hiring him as hitting coach is the latest example. I have never seen him receive the scrutiny he deserves. Agree on all points. But let’s not forget Tony LaRussa’s role in all this. He was — and remains — one of McGwire’s greatest apologists and enablers. Hiring him as hitting coach is the latest example. I have never seen him receive the scrutiny he deserves.

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